DeMint, Clyburn, Wilson cruise to primary victories

2010-06-09T00:33:02Z2010-06-09T03:29:03Z

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) — Three of South Carolina's major figures in national politics easily won their respective primaries Tuesday night.

South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint trounced Charleston lawyer Susan Gaddy in his quest Tuesday toward a second Senate term. With 7 percent of precincts reporting, DeMint was winning with 85 percent of the vote.

The tea party favorite will face one of two candidates in the Democratic primary — 64-year-old former judge Vic Rawl of Charleston or 32-year-old unemployed military veteran Alvin Greene of Manning.

DeMint has spent far more time this season helping elect like-minded conservatives to Congress than addressing his opponent back home. He still has $3.5 million cash available for the general election.

House Minority Whip Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking black representative, also easily won his primary contest against Gregory Brown. With 21 percent of precincts reporting, Clyburn had 89 percent of the vote.

Joe Wilson, the Midlands Republican who gained popular attention after yelling "You lie!" to President Obama during a State of the Union address, beat Phil Black in his primary race. With 45 percent of precincts reporting, Wilson had 84 percent of the vote.

"I always maintain this is the people's seat, and I am honored to have earned support from so many folks who don't want more of the same big government takeovers from Washington liberals," Wilson.